Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I have quite a few books on my Christmas wish list this year - despite the fact that I have been collecting design, architecture, and art books for years, I still have a lot of bookshelves to fill in the new house! Although the ideal is to have a book whose cover is beautiful, with both inspiring pictures and text on the inside, truthfully I find merit in just about any architecture, art, or design book and get great joy in receiving them for Christmas.

Here are some of the books that are on my 'wish list' this year - let me know if you have read them, or have any other suggestions.

Katie Ridder is the talent behind many of my favorite rooms from my inspiration files. I love her beautiful and sophisticated but playful use of color in her spaces. She has a new book out - Katie Ridder Rooms - and I am looking forward to reading it! Click here to see on Amazon.

Suzanne's book is definitely one that I actually reference again and again - I highly recommend. Purchase on Amazon here.

Blog readers often ask me about my favorite architecture and design books. I love books; in recent years, they have become my favorite Christmas gift to give and receive, and I enjoy spending the afternoon of Christmas day looking through and reading books. I have gathered together all of my favorite architecture, design, and art books in one place – the Things That Inspire Amazon store. Click here to visit it, or go to http://astore.amazon.com/thithains-20. I have also posted about my favorite architecture books here.

There are some wonderful new additions to the Penguin Classics series this year. I often give this book as a hostess gift during the holiday season. Available from Amazon here.

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I have the Suzanne Rheinstein book - it is lovely. Bill Baker also has a new book out which he gave me - it has his newer work in it and at least one collaboration with Suzanne Kasler and one with Phoebe Howard. Although a couple of these houses have been in magazines, there are additional pictures that were not included and the pictures are of excellent quality. Very fun to look at - particularly since I recognized some of the features going into my house :)

Holly..wonderful list. Some I own and some are my list too. Historic Houses of Paris a good friend gave me for my last birthday and I love it, its a very large impressive book full of glossy over the top beautiful images of palace like interiors/ambassadors residences. I love it and keep it on my living room coffee table. The Jacques Garcia book I have had for some time and appreciate it now more than I did when I first got it a few years ago....loaded with opulent but magnificent details. He decorated my aunts country home and I after staying there was so blown away by what he did there, I became obsessed with his work!Parisian Interiors was a bit of a letdown to me, a goregous promising cover but a couple of images worth oogling over and that was it! Charles Faudree, have every one of his books, they are like a bible to me, love Suzanne Rhinesteins book too! I have also enjoyed the images in Brooke's Patina Style. Thanks for this great list....have added a few to my own list now!Happy reading.......

I am a new reader to your blog and absolutely love the pictures you have shared of your new house. I didn't realize it, but I looked at your blog quite a while ago when you did your post on kitchen marble, and saved many of your kitchen pictures to my own inspiration file.

I was hoping you might share what kind of windows you used in the new house. My 1930s farmhouse needs new windows, and I love the look of yours.

The Penguin Classic books are fun to collect, and look amazing on bookshelves! I have all of them - I picked up a few a month until I had them all, and it is great fun to pre-order new ones as they come out.

Thanks for sharing! I love this blog.Pam Mengel / bellasmom35@yahoo.com

What a great list. I have Parisian Interiors which I love, but for me, it was worth it for the cover - it's gorgeous!! My absolute favorite of those that I have is French Essence. I ordered it last Christmas for friends and loved it so much that I got it for myself. Every picture and every word is fabulous!! I ordered Mary McDonald Interiors: The Allure of Style and Charles Faudree Details a few days ago and can hardly wait for them to come in...they look wonderful. Have a great Sunday ~

Axel Vervoordt's The Story of a Style is one of my favorites, as is Saladino's Villa. Two books that are regular reference books for Sally and me as we do our design work are Winterthur Style Sourcebook, Traditional American Rooms by Brent Hull and Christine Franck and Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use and Avoid by Marianne Cusato. For lovers of Swedish architectural style, I would suggest Classical Swedish Architecture and Interiors, 1650 - 1840, by Johan Cederlund.

Holly-I just purchased Versailles, A Private Introduction after visiting there a few months ago. Definitely a good book and worth the purchase. Visiting Versailles can be overwhelming as there is so much to see, so this is a great reference.

Parisian Interiors has a beautiful cover; I saw it in my local bookstore and it was a disappointment. I have and enjoy: 1) Historic Houses of Paris2) Versailles: A Private Invitation3) Charles Faudree's Details4) Patina Style5) French Essence

You have some on your list that I have considered, and some I've not heard of but sound interesting. Thanks!

I own Patina Style and The English House. I love them both and believe what attracts me to them is that you can find applicable ideas whether you live in a palace or cottage. Something for everyone. In addition, Brooke is so sweet, it makes Patina Style so enjoyable, feeling like I'm having a conversation on style with the writer.

Well, I've just added a few more books to my list, thanks to you! Seeing Patina Style included on your list with so many of my favorites was like receiving an early Christmas gift. Thank you!Steve and I wish you and your family a Happy, Healthy and Beautiful Holiday Season.

All interesting choices. I have a few of these. I saw the Parisian Interiors the other day and almost bought it for the cover alone but the inside was rather boring. I don't remember, so it could not have been good. Rose Tarlow is amazing - she needs another book. And Gertrude Jekyll - what a dream. England's Hideaways looks like a dream too, as does the Versailles book. I have been there twice but think I need that book to recall its bounty. I am a major Sargent fan, so I will add that to my list. Great suggestions!

Michael Smith is just the best, as is Suzanne (like I have to tell you).xo Terri

Holly - have you seen the book "The Great Lady Decorators" which came out a year or two ago. I have not laid eyes on it, but it looks promising. It is on my birthday wish list (March) as I have enough Xmas stuff already!You might like that - it is all about the grand dames like Elsie de Wolfe, Syrie Maugham, Nancy Lancaster, Madeline Castaing, etc.

Hi Holly, As a design writer and author of 18 architecture books, I love hearing what other people are buying, and this list was wonderfully inspiring. England's Hideaways is a lovely book. It's part of a charming series which has been incredibly successful. The author Meg Nolan has carved a wonderful career for herself doing these gorgeous hideaway titles. I've put the Versailles one on my Christmas list too and Santa has graciously agreed to buy it. I've seen it in the bookstores and the photographs are of a very high production standard. I can't wait to read it. I believe the Gertrude Jekyll one is in the Santa Sack too! Thank you for this lovely list of ideas. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas from Australia.Janelle McCullochjanellemccullochlibraryofdesign.blogspot.com

Such a great list! I have, and love, The British Ambassador's Residence in Paris by Tim Knox. I have been lucky enough to visit this house and see the Fabulous Duff Cooper Library created by Charles de Beistegui. Tim is the Director of the Sir John Soane Museum in London and I Adore him and his writing!

Just commented on your wreath post and saw your latest posts about architecture books. You obviously love France (and so do I!) so will hand some of these names to my husband for a gift for me. But, I'm commenting on your Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol". I just read this book for the first time this week and finished it last night. Love the movies and love this book. I thought the writing would be very "olde English" but it wasn't. Great hostess gift idea!

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